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Before embarking on any of these Colorado hikes, it’s important to research and plan out the details of your trip carefully. Reference guide books, local visitors centers and forest rangers to find out the level of difficulty, the best time of day to hike, how to get to the trailhead, how much water you should bring and proper attire.

1. Ice Lake Basin, San Juan Mountains

Distance: 7.6 miles round-trip If its refreshing name isn’t enticing enough for a summer trek, listen up: The blue tint of the glacial lakes at the end of this hike is almost unbelievable — like ocean water from a Caribbean resort advertisement. The hike starts near Silverton, and there are two basins waiting for you at the end framed by blankets of wildflowers and jagged peaks. More info >>

Crested Butte hiking trail

2. Star Dune, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Distance: 3.8-mile loopSummit the highest sand dune in North America (750 feet) on a calf-burning triumph within Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve near Alamosa. Choose your own path up the dunes (trails don’t exist), particularly at dusk when the light gives them a rich gold color and shadows snake across their wind-sculpted ridges. Visit in late spring/early summer and you’ll cross Medano Creek, a magically appearing and disappearing creek perfect for cooling hot toes. More info >>

3. West Maroon Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen

Distance: 22 miles round tripThe most photographed peaks in the state, Maroon Bells are just one of the rewards of this favorite — and very long! — hike between two of our most cherished mountain towns. This hike has it all: millions of flowers, towering mountain facades, alpine lakes and waterfalls. The peak blooming time for meadow wildflowers varies every year, but is usually near the end of June. Unless you’re a marathon hiker, book a night in Aspen before making the return trip to Crested Butte. More info >>

5. Rattlesnake Canyon Arches Trail, Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness

Distance: 5 miles round trip You don’t have to travel to Utah to see the grandeur of gravity-ridiculing red-stone arches. Just outside Fruita, Colorado is home to the second largest concentration of them in the world. Your world will feel topsy-turvey — in the good way — as you wind through these sweeping arches, spires and canyons. More info >>